Russian illegal flights to the occupied Crimea in October-November 2016 and database since the annexation

Russian illegal flights to the occupied Crimea in October-November 2016 and database since the annexation

06 December 2016

The BSNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs monitoring group has compared the number of illegal flights by the Russian airlines to the occupied Crimea in October-November 2016 with that in the corresponding months of 2014 and 2015.

Olha KORBUT
Crimean Department of Maidan of Foreign Affairs, Kyiv

The BSNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs monitoring group has compared the number of illegal flights by the Russian airlines to the occupied Crimea in October-November 2016 with that in the corresponding months of 2014 and 2015.

Over the three years of occupation, the number of airlines that used to fly to the Simferopol airport, dropped from 23 in 2014 to 19 in 2015 and 15 in November 2016. In other words, the number of airlines that fly to Crimea has significantly decreased.

The following shows the number of airlines that used to fly to the occupied Crimea in October-November 2014-2016 years, by the respective year.

The number flights to the Simferopol airport in 2015 was the highest in all of the studied period during the occupation.

November 2016 showed a downward trend in the overall frequency of daily flights in comparison with the previous year.

As of November 2016, the following Russian airlines flights flew to the occupied Crimea:

The graph below shows the reduction in flights in 2016 comparing to the 2014-2015. It is worth noting that the number of flights in November 2016 was even lower than in 2014, the first year of the occupation.

Number of airflights to occupied Crimea in 2014-2016

The main destination of the flights has not changed in the three years of occupation – it is predominantly Moscow, while St. Petersburg ranks second.

The destinations also include Yekaterinburg, Krasnodar, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Rostov, Tyumen, Ufa and Sochi. However, the frequency of flights to these cities has decreased to one daily compared with the 2014-2015, when there were two daily flights from Simferopol to each of them.

Russian airline uses these aircrafts also to operate passenger air travel to the airports of the EU and some non-EU countries that have recognized the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia at the UN General Assembly March 27, 2014.

The monitoring group presents the numbers of these aircrafts (October-November 2016) in Table 1 below.

Aircrafts of the Russian airlines that have been
continuously flying to the occupied Crimea,
while also flying to the European airports

Table 1.

##

Country
(Registr.)

Aircraft

Flight #

Airlines

To/From
Simferopol
flight

Flight to EU

VP-BIT

Bermuda

A319-111

SU6134

Аерофлот / Росія

SIP-ROV 17:25 24.10.2016

LED-Vienna (Austria)

SU6603 22.11.2016 09:30

LED-Munich (Germany)

SU6657 20.11.2016 10:30

VQ-BAV

Bermuda

A319-111

SU6895

Аерофлот / Росія

SIP-LED 16:00 24.10.2016

LED-Munich (Germany)

SU6657 22.11.2016 10:30

LED-Vienna (Austria)

SU6603 20.11.2016 09:30

LED-Munich (Germany)

SU6657 16.11.2016 10:30

LED-Larnaca (Cyprus)

SU6617 17.11.2016 08:45

VQ-BSE

Bermuda

A320-214

SU1629

Aeroflot / Russia

SIP-MOW 17:10 24.10.2016

MOW-Chisinau (Moldova)

SU1846 22.11.2016 11:45

MOW-Antalya (Turkey)

SU2142 19.11.2016 19:55

MOW-Dusseldorf (Germany)

SU2434 18.11.2016 20.00

MOW-Prague(CR)

SU2016 16.11.2016 20:20

VQ-BRQ

Bermuda

B737-8LP

GH166

S7 Airlines / Globus

SIP-MOW 16:45 24.10.2016

MOW-Dusseldorf

(Germany)

S7991 21.11.2016 09:25

VQ-BOZ

Bermuda

A321-211

U62842

Ural Airlines

SIP-MOW 19:15 24.10.2016

KZN-Dubai(OAE)

U6895 20.11.2016 17:05

VP-BVS

Bermuda

B737-524

NN345

VIM-Avia

MOW-SIP 15:20 24.10.2016

MOW-Dublin(Ireland)

NN9915 18.11.2016

Land. 09:22

VQ-BRP

Bermuda

B737-8LP

GH166

S7 Airlines / Globus

SIP-MOW 17:45

19.11.2016

MOW-Verona (Italy)

S7697 16.11.2016 11:05

MOW-Larnaca (Cyprus)

S7603 20.11.2016

11:35

VQ-BVL

Bermuda

B737-8GJ

GH164

S7 Airlines / Globus

SIP-MOW 14:35

22.11.2016

MOW-Verona (Italy)

S7697 19.11.2016 11:05

MOW-Larnaca (Cyprus)

S7603 21.11.2016

11:35

VQ-BOF

Bermuda

A321-211

U68

Ural Airlines

SIP-MOW 09:00 04.11.2016

MOW-Antalya(Turkey) U61001 07.11.2016 03:05

MOW-Eilat (Israel)

U65021 06.11.2016 14:00

Larnaca(Cyprus)-MOW U67030 05.11.2016 16:30

LED-Antalya(Turkey) U61073 09.11.2016 02:25

VQ-BCX

Bermuda

А321-211

U62832

Ural Airlines

SIP-MOW 14:05 07.11.2016

MOW-Eilat(Israel) U67019 06.11.2016 10:35

LED-Larnaza(Cyprus) U67035 04.11.2016 05:00

VP-BLH

Bermuda

A320-214

SU1637

Aeroflot / Russia

SIP-MOW 11:25 09.11.2016

MOW-Warsaw (Poland) SU2002 19:50 08.11.2016

MOW-Budapest(Hungary) SU2030 11:20 08.11.2016

MOW-Stockholm (Sweden) SU2210 11:25 04.11.2016

VQ-BAR

Bermuda

А319-111

SU6135

Aeroflot / Russia

SIP-KRR 13:40 09.11.2016

LED-Hamburg (Germany)

SU6654 09:10 14.11.2016

LED-Prague (CR)

SU6621 11:10 11.11.2016

VQ-BCX

Bermuda

A321-211

U62831

Ural Airlines

MOW-SIP 13:15 07.11.2016

Eliat (Israel)

Larnaca (Cyprus)

Antalya (Turkey)

VQ-BBA

Bermuda

A319-111

SU6138

Aeroflot / Russia

SIP-KRR 13:40 07.11.2016

Hamburg (Germany)

VQ-BSL

Bermuda

A320-214

SU1621

Aeroflot / Russia

SIP-MOW 14:5 04.11.2016

Stockholm (Sweden)

Copenhagen (Denmark)

Vilnius (Lithuania)

Dusseldorf (Germany)

VP-BTR

Bermuda

A321-211

SU1621

Aeroflot / Russia

SIP-MOW 14:25 04.11.2016

Vienna (Austria)

Milan (Italy)

Prague (CR)

Venice (Italy)

VQ-BPW

Bermuda

A320-214

SU1631

Aeroflot / Russia

SIP-MOW 21:20 31.10.2016

Hannover (Germany)

Berlin (Germany)

Istanbul (Turkey)

Prague (CR)

Desseldorf (Germany)

VP-BNN

Bermuda

A319-111

SU6895

Aeroflot / Russia

SIP-LED 13:10 01.11.2016

Vienna (Austria)

Hamburg(Germany)

VP-BBU

Bermuda

A319-112

SU6895

Aeroflot / Russia

SIP-LED 13:10 05.11.2016

Munich (Germany)

Vienna(Austria)

Hamburg(Germany)

VP-BWJ

Bermuda

A319-111

SU6893

Aeroflot / Russia

SIP-LED 21:05 05.11.2016

Tel Aviv (Israel)

Prague (CR)

VP-BLR

Bermuda

A320-214

SU1621

SU1637

Aeroflot / Russia

SIP-MOW 13:25 09.11.2016

SIP-MOW 12:25 15.11.2016

MOW-Tel Aviv(Israel)

SU516 14:45 06.11.2016

MOW-Berlin (Germany) SU2316 23:40 05.11.2016

MOW-Prague (CR)

SU2010 08:55 03.11.2016

MOW-Istanbul (Turkey) SU2134 21:45 02.11.2016

VQ-BKH

Bermuda

A321-211

U62932

Ural Airlines

SIP-SVX 14:30 09.11.2016

MOW-Antalya (Turkey) U63001 13:40 05.11.2016

LED-Antalya (Turkey)

U61073 02:25 05.11.2016

VP-BQK

Bermuda

А319-111

SU6895

Aeroflot / Russia

SIP-LED 17:05 09.11.2016

ROV-Tel Aviv (Israel)

SU6629 19:35 06.11.2016

LED-Barcelona (Spain)

SU6701 10:15 05.11.2016

VQ-BWC

Bermuda

Boeing 737-8LJ

SU1625

Aeroflot / Russia

SIP-MOW 19:55 10.11.2016

MOW-Bologna (Italy)

SU2424 09:10 08.11.2016

MOW-Belgrade (Serbia) SU2090 10:40 05.11.2016

MOW-Brussels (Belgium) SU2618 20:50 03.11.2016

VP-BJA

Bermuda

A320-214

SU1625

Aeroflot / Russia

SIP-MOW 18:55 08.11.2016

MOW-Prague (CR)

SU2016 20:20 07.11.2016

MOW-Istanbul (Turkey) SU2130 09:50 04.11.2016

VQ-BOC

Bermuda

А321-231

U62842

Ural Airlines

SIP-MOW 21:10 08.11.2016

MOW-Eilat (Israel)

U67021 11:35 06.11.2016

VQ-BSU

Bermuda

А320-214

SU1637

Aeroflot / Russia

SIP-MOW 12:25 04.11.2016

MOW-Chisinau (Moldova) SU1846 08:50 10.11.2016

MOW-Barcelona (Spain) SU2512 20:10 09.11.2016

MOW-Hannover(Germany) SU2342 12:25 09.11.2016

MOW-Dusseldorf (Germany) SU2436 20:00 08.11.2016

MOW-Stockholm(Sweden) SU2210 11:25 06.11.2016

VQ-BCO

Bermuda

A319-111

SU6895

Aeroflot / Russia

SIP-LED 13:10 10.11.2016

LED-Hamburg (Germany)

SU6653 09:10 09.11.2016

LED-Prague (CR)

SU6621 11:10 07.11.2016

VQ-BSJ

Bermuda

А320-214

SU1621

Aeroflot / Russia

SIP-MOW 14:25 10.11.2016

MOW-Prague (CR)

SU2010 08:55 09.11.2016

MOW-Vilnius (Lithuania)

SU2108 21:10 08.11.2016

MOW-Budapest (Hungary)

SU2030 11:20 07.11.2016

MOW-Chisinau (Moldova)

SU1846 08:50 06.11.2016

VP-BGQ

Bermuda

Boeing 737-8LJ

SU6146

Aeroflot / Russia

SIP-MOW 22:30 07.11.2016

LED-Larnaca (Cyprus)

FV5703 09.11.2016 Land. 07:07

MOW-Pafos (Cyprus)

FV5705 08.11.2016 Land.07:49

MOW-Prague (CR)

FV5739 06.11.2016 Land.06:24

MOW-Rimini (Italy)

FV5728 05.11.2016 Land.06:22

VQ-BWJ

Bermuda

Boeing 737-8LJ

SU6146

Aeroflot / Russia

SIP-MOW 22:15 04.11.2016

MOW-Prague (CR)

FV5739 10.11.2016 Land.06:27

MOW-Pafos (Cyprus)

FV5705 09.11.2016 Land.07:53

LED-Larnaca (Cyprus)

FV5765 08.11.2016 Land.17:48

MOW-Eilat (Israel)

FV5745 06.11.2016 Land. 08:24

MOW-Dubai (OAE)

FV5733 05.11.2016 13:10

LED-Antalya (Turkey)

FV5863 03.11.2016 Land.18:10

VQ-BDA

Bermuda

A321-211

U62842

Ural Airlines

SIP-MOW 21:10 05.11.2016

MOW-Rimini (Italy)

U6741 08:05 05.11.2016

VQ-BSG

Bermuda

A320-214

SU1637

Aeroflot / Russia

SIP-MOW 12:25 14.11.2016

MOW-Berlin (Germany)

SU2316 20:30 14.11.2016

MOW-Warsaw (Poland)

SU2002 18:50 13.11.2016

MOW-Stockholm (Sweden)

SU2210 11:25 12.11.2016

MOW-Chisinau (Moldova)

SU1846 08:50 11.11.2016

MOW-Prague (CR)

SU2016 20:20 10.11.2016

According to the Maidan of Foreign Affairs and BSNews monitoring group, during the occupation, over 40 Russian airlines, as well as Cambodian and Vietnamese air carriers Cambodia Angkor Air and Jetstar Pacific, have flown to Simferopol, the only airport in the occupied Crimea.

As of November 2016, twenty of them have stopped flying to the occupied peninsula. Among them are those that fell under sanctions from the EU, US and other countries.

During this time, the aircrafts entered in the database for violating the Ukraine state border crossing regime, have been also flying to Norway, Austria, Greece, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Turkey and other countries.

Despite Russia’s violation of the March 27, 2016 UN General Assembly resolution on the annexation of Crimea and regular violations of the order of entering the territory of Ukraine by crews and passengers of the Russian airplanes, the airports of these and other countries continue cooperation with the airlines-violators, while the manufacturers of Airbus (EC) and Boeing (US) continue to serve the aircrafts that conduct illegal flights to the occupied Crimea.

Between June 2014 and November 2016, Russian airlines carried out over 83,000 flights to and from the occupied airport of Simferopol.

Five of these carriers have ceased their activities for various reasons, such as sanctions for flying to the occupied Crimea and the lack of subsidies for the flights to Simferopol that had been promised by the Russian authorities earlier.

Table №2gives a list of all airlines that have flown to the occupied peninsula since the annexation.

Russian airlines that have flown to the occupied Crimea,
their fleet and international routes

Airlines that have ceased activity are highlighted in gray

Airlines that continue flying to Crimea are highlighted in pink

Airlines that have stopped flying to Crimea as of November 2016, are not highlighted

The vast majority of these aircrafts are manufactures by Airbus [1] and Boeing [2]. These companies continue the maintenance of these aircrafts that also fly to the airports of the European countries and other countries that have officially recognized the annexation of Crimea by Russia.

Table №2 lists the new orders by the airlines that they expect to be fulfilled by the manufacturers in the next few years.

The fleet and the orders of the bankrupt carriers, such as Transaero (discontinued activities on October 26, 2015), have been transferred to Aeroflot, the leader of the Russian air transportation and illegal flights to the occupied Crimea, as well as its subsidiaries and the S7 Group holding (S7 Airlines / Globus).

On August 24, 2016 Aeroflot has received the first two Airbus A321 aircrafts earlier ordered by the bankrupt carrier Transaero.

The fleet of the Donavia and Orenburg Airlines that used to fly to the occupied Crimea but in March 2016 stopped doing so under their names and integrated into the Rossia airline, has come under the control of the latter. Rossia itself is part of the Aeroflot group.

As of November 2016, the Russian airlines-violators offending fly to the airport of Simferopol on the boards of Airbus and Boeing, also owning aircrafts by Bombardier and Embraer.

[1] Aibus - one of the largest aircraft building companies headquartered in Toulouse, France. Production includes passenger, freight and military transport aircrafts. Production is concentrated in France, Germany, Spain and the UK.

[2] Boeing - one of the two largest aircraft manufacturers in the world, headquartered in Chicago, USA. Production includes passenger, freight and military transport aircrafts and space technology.

Among the companies providing leasing services for the vehicles of the Russian Ural Airlines and S7 Airlines / Globus are: the ACG (Aviation Capital Group) headquartered in the US, the ILFC (International Lease Finance Corporation) that in 2014 was absorbed by the Dutch AerCap (headquartered in Amsterdam) and Air Lease Corporation (ALC) headquartered in Los Angeles, USA.

NOTE:

In December 2014 the administration of President Barack Obama has adopted a number of decisions on sanctions for any action in the occupied Crimea.

In April of that same year, in accordance with the ICAO Convention on International Civil Aviation, Eurocontrol (European Organization for Safety of Air Navigation), banned European airlines from fying to the Russia-occupied Crimea and in Sevastopol. [1].

Ukraine has officially accused [2] Russia of violating the multilateral and bilateral international agreements and the provisions of the European Air Navigation Plan, as well as of ignoring the established borders of the Flight Information Regions (FIR) [3].

The Air Navigation Services in the sky over the Crimean Peninsula are under the Ukrainian jurisdiction, but because of Russia's annexation of the Crimea Autonomous Republic, had to move the dispatch center from Simferopol to Dnipropetrovsk and Odessa.

However, due to the inability of the state to guarantee the security of Ukraine flights over the occupied territories, in March 2014, it was decided to close the Simferopol and Belbek airports and lower airspace and restrict movement in the Simferopol flight information region.

At the same time, Ukraine continues to service the Black Sea FIR within its control.

In April 2014, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) identified Russia's actions towards seizing control of the airspace of Crimea and the Black Sea that belong to the Ukrainian FIR as illegal [4].

For the last two and a half years, the BSNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs monitoring group has been conducting daily monitoring of the illegal flights to the occupied Crimea with further publications in the media on the airlines offenders.

* * *

The investigation is conducted within the project The International Sanctions Over the Annexation of Crimea: Efficiency and Effect, Adherence and Circumvention Techniques, made possible by the support of the Media Development Fund of the US Embassy in Ukraine. The opinions of the authors do not necessarily coincide with the official position of the US government.

* * *

The monitoring of the violations of the international sanctions against Russia and the legal regime of the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea is supported by the European Program Initiative of the Renaissance International Foundation. The position of Renaissance International Foundation may not reflect the opinion of the authors.